Non-medical Use of Naphazoline (Naphthyzin): Two Case Reports.

: The paper describes 2 case reports of non-medical use of Naphazoline (Naphthyzin). Both demonstrate that the peripherally acting alpha-adrenergic agonist Naphazoline obtains some addictive potential. The drug produces a feeling of euphoria, which resembles the perceived effects of psychostimulants. Both patients and people who consume Naphazoline for intoxication report increased tolerance after repeated use which indicates the addictive potential of the substance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first examination of non-medical Naphazoline use and the first attempt to describe its addictive potential. Clinical psychiatrists should be aware of this phenomenon when addressing polysubstance use behavior.

Psychotic Disorders in Patients Who Use Synthetic Cannabinoids.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to investigate the structure of psychotic disorders due to synthetic cannabinoid use and to determine differences in clinical characteristics and disease course between such substance-induced psychosis and psychosis associated with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia. METHODS: This was a longitudinal, observational cohort study that included male patients who underwent inpatient treatment in the intensive care unit or in the emergency department due to substance-induced psychoses. The follow-up period was up to 2 years. RESULTS: We identified 4 clinical variants of substance-induced psychoses in patients who use synthetic cannabinoids. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that psychotic symptoms are typical manifestations in association with intoxication with synthetic cannabinoids, and we identified several nonspecific characteristics of the psychoses that may occur in patients intoxicated with synthetic cannabinoids. We also identified a number of signs that may indicate the presence of substance-induced psychoses.

Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder: A literature review and three case reports.

The paper describes diagnostic criteria, clinical presentation and types of hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), as well as current approaches to the treatment of this phenomenon using available scientific sources. Three case reports are also presented to demonstrate different types of this disorder. The first case report describes a 23-year old patient with a previous history of cannabis consumption who reported HPDD type I after the use of psilocybin mushrooms with small amounts of alcohol and hash. A month later, after cannabis use, the same visual and auditory distortions appeared again. During the following year, hallucinations recurred with the consumption of natural cannabinoids but not with alcohol intake. The symptoms have reduced within a year. Surprisingly, both other cases belonging to HPDD type II appeared in patients who consumed ecstasy, although MDMA is generally not considered a hallucinogen and hallucinations are not frequently reported after MDMA consumption. In both cases of HPPD type II after the use of ecstasy, the condition was very stressful and frightening. Both patients sought medical help and received tofisopam, lamotrigine and sertraline. After that, in both cases visual impairments have smoothed, but have not passed completely. Scientific sources suggest that HPPD may affect more than 50% of hallucinogen users and this disorder is often underdiagnosed. Therefore, patients suffering from HPPD can present in various clinical settings, and clinicians should be aware of this condition.